Why Indian D2C Brands Are Going International
Three drivers:
- Higher margins — Indian products (ethnic wear, Ayurvedic beauty, spices, handcraft) command premium prices internationally
- Dollar/Euro revenue — At ₹84+ per dollar, international sales have a built-in margin advantage
- Less competition — There are thousands of Indian D2C brands competing domestically. In international markets, your products are unique.
But international selling is complex. Most brands fail because they underestimate logistics, duties, and customer expectations.
Option 1: Shopify Markets
How It Works
- Shopify Markets lets you sell from your existing Shopify store to international customers
- Auto-converts currency, calculates duties/taxes at checkout, handles international shipping labels
- Your products, your brand, your customer relationship
Costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Shopify Markets setup | Free (included in plan) |
| Shopify Payments international fee | 3.9% + ₹3 per transaction |
| Duties/taxes | Charged to customer at checkout (DDP — Delivered Duty Paid) |
| International shipping (India to US) | ₹800-2,000 per order (depends on weight) |
| Returns | ₹1,500-3,000 per return (international reverse logistics) |
Best For
- Brands with existing international demand (Instagram followers from US/UK/UAE)
- Premium products where high shipping costs are acceptable (₹3,000+ products)
- Brands wanting full control over customer experience and data
Option 2: Amazon Global Selling
How It Works
- List products on Amazon US, UK, UAE, etc. directly from Seller Central
- Ship to Amazon’s international FBA warehouses → Amazon handles local fulfillment
- Alternatively use Amazon’s Global Logistics (AGL) for cheaper India-to-warehouse shipping
Costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Amazon referral fee | 15-20% (same as domestic) |
| FBA fulfillment fee (US) | $3-8 per unit (depends on size/weight) |
| International shipping to FBA warehouse | $2-5 per unit via AGL |
| Monthly storage | $0.75-2.40 per cubic foot |
| Returns processing | $2-5 per return |
Best For
- Brands with mass-market appeal and competitive pricing
- Products that are small/light (lower FBA fees)
- Brands comfortable losing customer data to Amazon
Option 3: Manual Export
How It Works
- Set up export documentation (IEC code, AD code, RCMC if applicable)
- Partner with an international courier (DHL, FedEx) or freight forwarder
- Handle customs, duties, and compliance yourself
Best For
- B2B/wholesale international orders
- Brands with a dedicated operations person who understands export documentation
- High-value, low-volume products where margins justify the complexity
Comparison
| Factor | Shopify Markets | Amazon Global | Manual Export |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium | High |
| Upfront investment | Minimal | Medium (inventory to FBA) | High (documentation) |
| Customer ownership | You own | Amazon owns | You own |
| Shipping cost per order | ₹800-2,000 | ₹200-500 (FBA handles) | ₹500-1,500 |
| Returns handling | You manage | Amazon manages | You manage |
| Brand control | Full | Limited | Full |
| Best first market | UAE (Indian diaspora) | US (largest Amazon) | UAE/UK (familiar) |
Getting Started: Our Recommendation
- Start with UAE — Large Indian diaspora, familiar with Indian brands, lower shipping costs, and Dubai is a gateway to the Middle East.
- Use Shopify Markets for D2C — Keep control of your brand and customer data. Start with 10-20 bestselling products.
- Add Amazon US after 6 months — Once you understand international logistics, ship inventory to Amazon FBA US for scale.
- Don’t try all markets at once — Master one market before expanding. US, UK, UAE are the top 3 for Indian D2C brands.
Need Help Going International?
At Growww Tech, we help Indian D2C brands set up international selling — from Shopify Markets configuration to Amazon Global Selling setup. Let’s explore international markets.
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